4th International Forum: Chinese Contemporary Art and the World - “Between Authenticity and Deception”

The University of Chicago Center in Beijing

School of Arts, Peking University

A concern for authenticity often guides how we engage with art. We value originality and revere the “true” artwork, while rejecting fakes and forgeries. We want artists to show their true selves and become skeptical whenever they present themselves as something they are not. 

Deception is the willful attempt to pass something off as authentic when it is not. In a domain that values authenticity, deception naturally finds a way to thrive: Each mode of authenticity has its deceptive counterpart. As Han van Meegeren’s infamous Vermeer forgeries or Zhang Daqian’s imitations of Shitao demonstrate, artistic deception often feeds off the aura and prestige of what is original. In doing so, deceptions acquire an interest and value they would otherwise lack. Deception can also be a way to subversively undermine the ideological foundations of our desire for authenticity, appropriating our interest in “the real deal” to reveal its hidden motivations.

The 4th edition of the International Forum “Chinese Contemporary Art and the World” tackles the problems of authenticity and deception in the field of contemporary art. The selected presentations investigate the theoretical foundations and practical manifestations of authenticity, deception, forgery, falseness, and other related concepts. Besides scholars, a number of invited artists and curators will also discuss how authenticity and deception have shaped their artistic production.